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UNITED STATES ROBERT L. WILLIS, OF SHERMAN, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR OF ON E-HALF A. TRUMBULL, OF SAME PLACE.

PATENT OFFICE.

BALE-BAND Tl-GHTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 291,560, dated January 8, 1884.

Application filed September 17, 1883.

To all whom, it may concern Be it known that I, R0131. 'L. WVILLIs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sherman, in the county of Grayson and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Bale-Band Tightener, of which the following is a specification. a

My invention relates to improvements in bale-band tighteners in which a combination of curved levers operate in conjunction with serrated cams; and the object of my improvement is to produce a device by which one person may with ease draw a band tightly around a bale of cotton or other merchandise, in place of one that has by accident been broken. I attain this object by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the entire machine; Fig. 2, a front View of the same.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The main lever A is formed into a handle at the top, and the bottom is curved outward and downward, the end being rounded, and having pivoted to it an arm, B, which extends outward and upward to near the end, when it curves and extends down to a -level with the lower end of main lever A. It then turns for ward with a square bend, forming a foot, a, of about one inch projection. Above this foot, and cast or otherwise secured to arm B, is a lug, F, which extends forward the same distance as foot 01-, when it curves downward, forming, with main part of arm B, a support for pin 0, upon which pin turns loosely the serrated cam G. The distance from the pivot supporting this cam to its face gradually increases from a point near the top side to the lower end, which enables it to grasp bands of different thickness. The face of cam should (No model.)

be out similar to a coarse file, which will insure its gripping greasy or painted bands.

B is an arm similar in construction to that of B, but pivoted some distance above it to the main lever at D, the distance above being governed by the distance it is desired to draw the bands. The cam O is of the same form as that of C, but the point is turned in an oppo-.

site direction, as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

When it is desired to draw a band around a bale of cotton or other merchandise from which a band has broken, the band E is placed under the bale, the tightener upon it, when the ends of the band are drawn up by hand and one end placed under cam C, the other under cam 0, when, by pulling on the handle in the direction indicated by the arrow, the two'ends are drawn together, when they may be secured by any of the well-known ties or buckles. The handle is then pushed back, when the cams are released from the band, and the implement may be removed.

- It will be observed that this device will not injure or weaken the band at the point of contact with the cams. as the band is held principally by pressure between the cams O O and foot a and c.

Having thus described my invention, what I esteem as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The lever A, having the arms B B pivoted thereto, the outer ends of said arms being provided, respectively, with lugs F a and pivoted cams O G, substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

ROBERT'L. WILLIS.

Witnesses:

J. A. TRUMBULL, H. L. HALL.

TO JAMES 

